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Gay Pride Parade Set For Saturday

MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) – Miami Beach will be alive Saturday during the 3rd annual Miami Beach Gay PRIDE parade and festival. It’s billed as a celebration of the strength, beauty, and contributions of South Florida’s LGBT Community.

But it will also give the LGBT community in South Florida a chance to showcase some of the couples who have been giving strength and inspiration to generations of LGBT South Floridians.

Tony Fernandez and Bob Truax have been together for nearly 6 decades and Saturday, they will be one of 42 couples in this year’s parade. They will be in the “Legacy” group made up of couples who have been together more than 20 years.

They began dating in 1953 when Tony was a young entertainer who just came over from Cuba and in a heartbeat; they knew it was meant to last.

“He had those beautiful eyes,” recalled Tony as he looked at an old picture of Bob. “That did it for me and the smile! I love it.”

And would you believe, during all their years together – they’ve only had one big quarrel – that’s all it took.

“He (Bob) went to his mother and I stayed in the apartment by myself, I was crying and carrying on,” remembers Tony. “The next morning, at 6 o’clock in the morning, he open the door and we saw each other and embrace(d) and we know that we could not be without each other.”

That’s when they learned the secret of a great relationship – one they share with a lot of young couples…both gay and straight.

“I said, ‘Hey, don’t sweat the small stuff, communicate, talk things over and don’t stay angry over night,’” said Bob.

Along with love and patience there’s also a lot to be said for a good sense of humor!.

“Do you still see the same guy today?” asked Scouten as Bob looked at Tony’s picture from 1953. “Hell no!” Bob laughed! “No comment!” said Tony, as he laughed too.

For more details about the Miami Beach Gay Pride Festival and Parade, click here.

Emmy award winning journalist Ted Scouten has been the familiar face at the scene of international stories that affect South Florida since 1998. From being the first South Florida reporter in Manhattan after the 9/11 attacks, to the Atto...